Foot-arch support



Aug. 14, 1923. EAMES@ N. v. LEvlT-r FooT ARCH SUPPORT Filed Oct. 29f 1919 Patented Aug. 14, l923.

nutren stares lait-asada PATENT @.FFlClE. i

NATHAN 'V'.ALEVITT, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSlGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO MORRI'IS L. GOLDICH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. i

FOOT-ARCH SUPPORT.

Yapplication filed October 29, 1919. Serial No. 334,185.

ffStatey of Pennsylvania, have invented new Y, YandY .useful Improvements in Foot-Arch Supports, of which the'following is a speci ication. y y y My'present invention'relates to an improvedroot arch support.

VThe primary objectV of this invention is to provide a support which is constructed so as to space and spread the joints in the anterior metatarsal arch to relieve the pains or cramps 'due to improper spacing and to relieve metatarsalgia. y

A further object .isto provide a support which while properly spacing the bones of the anterior metatarsal Varch will slightly raise these bonesand will act to equalize the bodys weight and to relieve the pressure on the ligaments and digital nerves.

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide anv arch support having a pocket constructed in that portion adapted to receive the anterior metatarsal arch, which pocket will receiveY and removably hold cushions of 'different thicknesses, thus allowing for adjustment of the height to which the bones 30. in this portion of the foot are raised.

Another object resides in providing a pad structure to be received in said pocket, which padv structure has a plurality ot Vsmaller cushions thereon to tit between and properly space and spread the metatarsal Y bones, and in providing a plurality of these cushions ofA different thickness to be interchangeably fitted upon the padand to thus permit adjustmentV andtting of the arch support structure to the requirementsof each individual foot.

to'Y

Figure-1 is a vlew-in bottom plan. ojfmy A with the drawings, and then pointed out in Y improved form offoot arch support.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view Online 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a plan View showing one form of pad which can be employed.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective illustrating one of the interchangeable cushion-members f for use with this pad structure. Fig. 6 1s a view 1n perspective of a modii fied form of pad.

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the disclosure in Fig. 6.

The main portion l of the arch support can be made up in any approved form and of any desired materials, and can be stiffened if the requirements of use demand. A covering 2, of leather or other material on the lower side of the body portion is left loose at its forward edge and is preferably stitched around or secured on the line indicated at 3. to form a pocket 4 at the forward end of the body portion. Or, this pocket might be formed from a separate piece of material stitched on to the body portion.

The extent of the body portion forming one side of the pocket is preferably tapered ott" as shown in Fig. 2 or otherwise formed Vto be more or less fiexible and yielding, and

the pad structure V5 is shaped to be received within the pocket. This pad includesa re silient cushioning member 6, ot sponge rubber or other suitable material, which has a body member 7 secured thereon, and the body member has a plurality of openings 8 therein. nterchangeable cushion inserts 9, of rubber or other material having resilient qualities, are constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 5 to present convexor ballshaped faces on one side, and are made flat on. the remaining side, these'inserts being grooved around their peripheries. The cushion inserts are adapted to be removably fitted to the'openings 8, and the body is preferably bevelled inwardly around the openings to present a substantially dove-tailed shape which will catch within the peripheral grooves of the cushion inserts 9 and retain the same against casual displacement. These cushion inserts are made of various thicknesses and of greater and lesser convexity,

and as shown in Fig. t, the openings S may be of different sizes in which case the size of the inserts will be varied.

YIn the use of the arch support constructed after the manner et my invention the resilient forward edge of the body portion will extend forwardly to bear against the plantar surface of the anterior n'ietitarsal arch and a pad placed within the pocket l will be disposed to raise and support this portion of the foot. By placing a pad structure, made up in the manner described, in the pocket 4 with the cushion inserts 9 up wardly, a resilient filler is provided to raise vthe forward end of the arch support and at the same timethe convcxities of the inserts 9 are presented beneath the thin forward end of the body portion. As the weight of the foot is brought to bear upon the arch support, when the same is placed within the shoe, the flexible edge of the support body gives under the pressure and a surface of substantially the forni shown in F 3 is ipresented'beneath the anterior metatarsal arch. The convexities formed by the cushion inserts 9 lit in between the joints or metatarsal bones, and through a proper articulation pain or cramps due to improper spacing are relieved.

For a normal foot four of the cushion inserts will'ybe used, and the spacing of the openings 8 can be somewhat standardized, however for different conditions and to insure a. comfortable lit-ting the pads can be made up with the openings in different spacings. A plurality of cushion inserts of greater and lesser convexity will preferably be provided so that in ,each fitting the cushions can be inserted to extend to a proper height to bring` about articulation of the bones as in a normal foot.

lhile the pad structure hereinbefore particularly described will function ethciently, other forms n'iightbe employed, and in Figs. 6 and 7 l have illustrated one embodiment which might be resorted to. .ln this adaptation the stiffening member 10 has a sponge rubber or other cushion member il thereon v and a plurality of convex cushions l2 are secured on this cushion rubber il. The cush- Qions l2 are preferably thinned out at their edges as at 1B and are preferalily overlapped "when fitted in place to thus present an even vundulation irrespective of positions to which )the pad structure may be flexed by shifting of the weight within the shoe. The cushion members l2 are secured in place by means of stitching'V at lll, or in any other desired manner.

F rom the foregoing itivill be seen that Y thus 'equalizing the distribution. of weight on the foot to secure the proper bearing points necessary to a normal functioning and to a full relief of unnatural and undue pressure on the associated ligaments and the digit-al nerves. Y l f lWhile have described the principle involved in my invention, togetherwith what ll consider the best form of the structure, and have mentioned only` certain possible modifications, l wish to have it understood that other changes in construction and arrangement of the parts may be made when desired as are within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A footarch support including, with a body portion having one end madeiiexible and extended to receive the anterior metatarsal arch of a foot, cushion means disposed beneath the flexibleY portion ofthe body formed to present a plurality of convex protuberances on the upper side beneath the `flexible portion to conform thei'body portion to present the protuberances to ltit between and articulate the bones of the anterior metatarsal arch.

2. A foot arch support including with a body portion extended to receive the anterior metatarsal arch said bod lbeini'made {iexible in the extended portion and provided with a pocket, cushion means received Vwithin said pocket provided with a plurality of convex protuberances spaced to be received between and to articulate the bones of the anterior metatarsal arch. f

.3. A foot arch `support including with a body portion extended to receive the anterior metatarsal arch, said body portion being made flexible inthe extended portion and provided with a pocket, a pad 'adapted to be removably fitted within said poc'lret and provided with convexcushion portions on its upper side to present their'raised form through the flexible portion of the body in spaced relation and to fit between the bones of the anterior metatarsal arch to 'articulate the same in a natural spacing.

t. A foot arch support including with a body portion extended to comebeneath the anterior metatarsal arch and provided with a pocket, a pad adapted to be removably'iittedV within said pocket, and'convex cushion members removably fitted in conjunction with said pad structure and spacedv't'hereon i to come between the bones of the anterior inetatarsal arch when the hodys weight is supported by a foot resting` on the arch support having the pad structure in place.

5. A foot arch support including with a body `portion extended to come beneath the anterior metatarsal arch of a fo ot,'an'elon gated pad to be iitted transverselyin 'conjunction with the extended portion andprovided withA a plurality of openings spa-eed i throughout itslength, 'and convex cushion tion and provided with a pocket beneath the leXible portion, an elongated pad to be fitted transversely in said pocket and provided Ii.0,---

with a lnrality of openings spaced throughout its ength, and convex cushion. inserts of different heights constructed to be fitted to and held Within the o enings of said pad. In testimony whereof, alix my signa-ture.

NATHAN V. LEVITT. 

